S&S to launch self-publishing service with Author Solutions

Simon & Schuster has teamed up with Author Solutions to launch a self-publishing service called Archway Publishing.

Archway Publishing will offer self-publishing services in fiction, non-fiction and children’s categories.It will operate in the US, UK, Australia and India.

Author Solutions was bought by Pearson in July for $116m (£74m), with Penguin c.e.o. John Makinson at the time saying "self-publishing has moved into the mainstream of our industry".

Today (27th November) Carolyn Reidy, president and c.e.o. of Simon & Schuster, said: “Through Archway Publishing, Simon & Schuster is pleased to be part of the rapidly expanding self-publishing segment of our industry. Self-publishing has become a viable and popular route to publication for many authors, and increasingly a source of content for traditional publishers, including Simon & Schuster.”

She added: “We’re excited that we’ll be able to help more authors find their own path to publication and at the same time create a more direct connection to those self-published authors ready to make the leap to traditional publishing.”

The publisher will be offering “concierge services” where authors will have the option of working with a dedicated publishing guide who will coordinate each step of the book production process; a “Bookseller’s Catalogue”, with Archway titles included in Edelweiss, the online catalogue available to major retailers; and an “Archway Speakers Bureau”, where authors will have the opportunity to create high-quality videos and book trailers.

Kevin Weiss, c.e.o. of Author Solutions, said: “The collaboration between Simon & Schuster and Author Solutions brings an entirely new level of expertise, experience and opportunity to the marketplace. It truly is the best time in history to be an author.”

Author Solutions has previously formed partnerships with Hay House and Thomas Nelson.